Webster defines God in three ways:
- the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshiped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe
- a spirit or being that has great power, strength, knowledge, etc., and that can affect nature and the lives of people : one of various spirits or beings worshiped in some religions
- a person and especially a man who is greatly loved or admired
As Christians, we worship an eternal God; therefore, my title makes no sense: God cannot die. He has always existed and will always exist–a doctrine which our finite minds cannot grasp, so we believe it by faith! I am not talking about our Almighty, Creator, Infinite God.
Door Number Two: a spirit or being that has great power… That can only be one “being” and that would be Satan. Although he parades himself as a host of gods, all “small g” gods really are Satan. I am not talking about Satan.
Door Number Three: a person and especially a man who is greatly loved or admired. The first person I thought of for this category was Elvis Presley. 😦 Certainly, many worshiped him as a god and when he died, their lives were shattered. It’s always difficult when gods die! However, I’m not talking about man-gods either. There are far more treacherous gods for us to face, and we face them every day of our lives! Let me give you an example:
This morning as I was choosing my cereal, a host of guidelines went into that choosing process: This one has wheat and my “Fast Metabolism Diet” described all the digestive difficulties of eating wheat. Honeynut Cheerios? Too many empty calories for a working day. Crispex? Not enough fiber. With a sigh, I realize that a god of mine is dying: the joy of eating! Gone are the days of eating whatever I want–guilt-free! Caution comes with old age, and we need to watch what we eat if we want to maintain any semblance of healthy living!
As I work in the local public school, I see so many changes. Our district, like most districts across the nation, has had to tighten its belt which boils down to layoffs and school closings. I believe our district has made it through, but things are different.
Another difference is that many of the teachers that were here when I started eight years ago are gone: many retired and some laid off. There are a lot of new fresh YOUNG faces, and they hold the center of the stage! We all move up a notch when that happens, and sometimes it’s hard to step aside and realize that middle-age has arrived! Life isn’t free Friday nights and pick-up ball teams any more. Instead, we’re driving the kids to practices, and running on the treadmill in the basement instead of running to the gym! It’s a time issue. It’s practical. It’s different! And if “youthful living” was a god, life can spiral out of control when it dies. These are just two examples of gods that die. What do we do when that happens?
I pick Door Number One! What a safe place: the God that doesn’t die! What a wonderful perspective He gives to this constantly changing life: He never changes! Wow! No wonder if feels so good just to rest in the arms of Jesus. He holds us and says, “It’s okay if the other gods dies. You know you shouldn’t have had other gods anyway–that command was given a long time ago!”
It’s actually a great day when gods die! They’re gone! They have no more control on our lives! We are free! And if you need help in this area, we have a god-Slayer ready to help! We just have to recognize those controlling gods in our lives and give God the green light to destroy them! Sadly, I think we’re a lot like Philip:
Beyond Common Sense 